Netflix’s live streaming of the Tyson vs Paul fight was marred by technical issues, with 60 million households worldwide tuning in. The event was hailed as a ‘record breaking night’ by the tech giant, but fans were left frustrated after experiencing buffering and crashing issues on the site.
Tech Reporter’s Warning
Chris Stokel-Walker warned that Netflix needs to get its live streaming issues fixed. “They have to expect that if they’re going to get into this world, they’re going to have to get used to this volume of people coming,” he said. “The Tyson vs Paul fight was one of the most high-profile examples of an event they’ve done live, so it’s really not ideal.”
Star-Studded Ringside Audience
There was a star-studded ringside audience including Charlize Theron, Ralph Macchio, Joe Jonas, and Hasan Minhaj. Paul says 120 million viewers watched it live globally on Netflix, while the tech firm later stated “60 million households” around the world tuned in.
Technical Issues
But some viewers reported experiencing buffering issues on the site, and some said they simply couldn’t get onto it. The fight was “unwatchable,” wrote one X user. Another said she was “furious”, while a third complained he “did an all-nighter for nothing”.
Fan Reaction
Fans were left frustrated after buffering issues on Netflix prevented them watching the fight. Brendan Ashford, who lives in Devon, told BBC News he stayed up late to watch the fight, which took place in the early hours of Saturday morning UK time.
Additional Information
The fight attracted a huge amount of media coverage. Tyson is one of the most famous boxers on the planet, while Paul drew in a younger audience. There was a star-studded ringside audience including Charlize Theron, Ralph Macchio, Joe Jonas, and Hasan Minhaj.
Getty Images
Netflix says 60 million households worldwide tuned in live to see Mike Tyson take on Jake Paul, in the streaming giant’s first foray into live boxing.
The Event
The event, which was free for subscribers, is being hailed by the tech giant as a “record breaking night”. However, fans hoping to watch have expressed their anger and disappointment after some reported Netflix crashed repeatedly throughout the fight. But there was also criticism from those who were able to tune in, with many saying they found the boxing match lacklustre.
The Bout
In the bout, which took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, former world heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, was beaten by YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul, 27. The fight attracted a huge amount of media coverage. Tyson is one of the most famous boxers on the planet, while Paul drew in a younger audience.
Expert Opinion
Chris Stokel-Walker, a tech reporter, said that the huge demand to watch the fight was “Netflix’s undoing.” He stated that Netflix has done live broadcasting before, but what was different this time was that the fight was so hyped. There were many viewers who wanted to watch due to the personalities involved – Jake Paul with his huge following and Mike Tyson returning to the ring for the first time in decades.
Future Plans
Netflix intends to move towards more live sports in future, including a new deal with WWE from next year. Stokel-Walker said that Netflix needs to get this fixed, as they will have to expect a high volume of people coming if they are going to get into this world.
Quotes from Experts and Viewers
-
“It needs to get this fixed” – Chris Stokel-Walker
-
“The lagging is so bad the fights are unwatchable to long time subscribers like me and other people I know at home with friends, family, snacks, and drinks but no fights.” – Viewer
-
“Did Netflix not have enough time to prepare for the Tyson/Paul fight?” – Viewer
Background
Technical Issues
However, fans hoping to watch have expressed their anger and disappointment after some reported Netflix crashed repeatedly throughout the fight. Some viewers experienced buffering issues on the site, while others were unable to get onto it.
Criticism from Viewers
Criticism has also come from those who were able to tune in, with many saying they found the boxing match lacklustre. One viewer wrote that the lagging was so bad that the fights were unwatchable. Another person simply asked if Netflix had not had enough time to prepare for the Tyson/Paul fight.
Previous Issues with Live Streaming
This is not the first time Netflix has had issues with live streaming. Last year, it apologised after a much-publicised livestream of its hit dating show, the Love is Blind reunion, was delayed due to a glitch.
Criticism from Tech Reporter
Chris Stokel-Walker, a tech reporter, said that the huge demand to watch the fight was “Netflix’s undoing”. “Netflix has done live broadcasting before,” he said. “What’s different, was that this fight was so hyped. There were so many viewers that were wanting to watch this, given the personalities involved – Jake Paul with his huge following, Mike Tyson returning to the ring for the first time in decades.”
Criticism from Fans
Many fans also criticized Netflix on social media, saying they had experienced technical issues while trying to watch the fight. Some said the service failed at key moments during the event.
Reaction from Viewers
Some viewers expressed their disappointment and frustration with the technical issues, with one person saying “it was really disappointing” and another saying “I kept trying for a good hour before I gave up”.
Criticism of Netflix’s Preparation
One viewer simply asked, “did Netflix not have enough time to prepare for the Tyson/Paul fight?” Another person said “the lagging is so bad the fights are unwatchable to long time subscribers like me and other people I know at home with friends, family, snacks, and drinks but no fights”.
